Mail-bag catcher.



No. mimos..l Patented Jan. 9, mno. s. E. GIBSON.

HAIL BAG GATCHER.

(Aplimion med Apr. 2o. 1899.) .(No Model.) 3 Sheetsl-Shet l.

w I MMX N0. 64|,203. Palented lan. 9, |900. S. E.. GIBSON.

MAIL BAG GATCHER.

(Applicativi: filed Apr. v20, 1899.)

4 a Sheets-snm 2.

\ (No Model.)

ll'e. 6666071/ Patented In. l9, [900. S. E. GIBSON.

MAIL BAG CATC'HER.

(Application filed Apr. 20, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

IIIIII THE Nonni: PETERS ca., wAsHtNaroN. n. r:y

SALLIE E. GIBSON, OF PRINCESS, -KENTUCKY MAiL-BAecATcHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 641,203, dated January 9, 1900. Application led April 20,189@ Serial No. 713,787. (No modehl 'To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it knownv that I, SALLIE E. GIBSON, a

`citizen of the United States, residing at Princess, inthe county of Boyd and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMail-Bag Catchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it-appertains to make and use the same.Y

This invention has relation to the class of dei vices for mechanically handling mail pouches or matter at stations, such matter being delivered by the moving train 'and taken up by a receiver atthe station and the train at the saine time taking up any mattei-'to be delivered thereto from the station.v Usually the exchange or reception 'and' delivery of the mail is attended with great wear and tear upon the pouches, and the latter are soon V-nnfitted for further service Withoutundergoing repairs and are maintained in a serviceable condition only at great expensei The present invention is designed to relieve the pouches containing the mail-matter from excessive wear Vand strain, thereby prolonging their period of usefulness and obviating the necessity for early repairs and reducing the cost of their maintenance to the smallest amount possible.

A fnrtherpurpose 'of the invention is the provision of mechanisms capable of being easily and safely handled without danger to the manipulator, and which when not required for immediate service can'be folded into compact form and turned out of the way.

Further objects and advantages will appear as-the nature of the invention is unfolded i-n the following description and drawings hereto attached, in which'n Figure l is a perspective View of a station and inail-coach, showing the application of the invention and the relation of the parts 'when an interchange of mail-matter is about to take place. liig.- 2 is 'a detail plan view showing the disposition of the parts after the exchange has been effected'. Figf is a plan section of 'a portion of the car, showing the catcher appliedthereto and in position for delivery and taking up mail-matter' from a station. Fig. 4 is anend View of the catcher located at the station. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the part shown in 4. Fig.`

(i is a detail view in elevation of the support for receiving the mail at the station to be delivered to the passing train. view of the said support. Fig. 8 is a detail view ofthe outer end portions of the catcher applied to the maiLcOach. Fig. E) is a detail View similar to Fig. 3, the full lines showing Fig. i is a plan the catcher folded and thedotted lin esshowing it extendedand in readiness tobe swung outward., Fig. 10 is a front View of the ringholder.' tive of the lupper portion of the holder hav Fig. 1l is a det-ail view in perspecing the suspending-loop applied thereto and showing more clearly the relation of the antifriction-rollers.

Corresponding and'like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all theviews of the drawings by the same reference characters.

A crane is located at each of the stations and is provided with the devices for receiving and delivering the mail. As shown,the crane (consists of apost l, an upper arm 2, braced from the post 'byan interposed stay 3, and av lower arm 4. This post is set in the ground and is strengthened by braces 5and its arm 2 is reached b'ya ladder or steps 6, extending from the ground to the lower arm et, the latter serving asa support for the person when placing the holder upon the receiver applied to the arm 2. The arm 4 is supported .at its outer end by means of a stayor brace 7.

' The catcher at the station consists of abeani 8, mounted at an intermediate point upon the lower arm 4, so as tov be turned to bring either end in position for receiving the mail-matter y from the passing train, according to the direction of movement thereof. When out of it slipping-off thehook when received thereaction, the beam 8 is turned so as to occupy a position about parallel with the railroad# Ibo o n. The hook is approximately of 'U shape in"plan view, the longitudinal members being 1 divergentand the inner closed end dropped ordepressed at 11, forming vertical shoulders received thereon.

at the ends of the part 11.to engage with and limit the movement of the vbag-holder when A pin 12 ,isapplied to each end ofthe beam 8 anjd rises vertically therefrom and is designed to come in co'ntact'with and sides of the end portions of the bar 13 and are securedy thereto at'l their inner ends 'and are free at their outer ends, which are deiected slightlyv to facilitate the entranceof the suspension-loop of the-mailbag holder.

-upon the`1oarl when placing it in pSition.

rIhe springs 15 exerta lateral pressure against the top and sides of the suspension-loop sut'- icient to prevent the accidental ,displacement of the holder when properly positioned upon the bar 13, and they also serve to stead y the holder and maintain itin proper position lto be engaged by the catcherof the mail-coach.

The catcher applied `to the postal car is foldable and consists of a bar 16, pivoted at its innerend to a side ofthe car,so as to swing horizontally, and anaarln 17 hinged or pivoted to the outer end of the bar 16, so as to fold thereon when the catcher is not required for immediate use. A handle 1.8 is applied to the inner en'd of the bar 16 and fs grasped by the postal clerk when operating the device.

The catcher operates through an opening in" the side of the car and is limited in its outward movement 'by coming in contact with the inner'or rearend'f said opening. The4 arm 17 is disposed about at right angles to the length of thevbar 16 and is connected 'therewith by means of4 a butt or rule joint, so as to limit the downward. movement of the arm and hold itC about in th'eplane of the bar-16 and in positionto receive the mailmatter vto be delivered to-the car. at the station.I The means for' supporting thematter to be delivered-fromthe moving train-to4 the station. .are similar -tothe ecirrespend ingv means employed at the station foralike purl pose and consist of a bar 19, rigidly attached tothearm 17, and a series oif springs 20, arranged at the top and sides ot said bar. This bar 19 is located beneath the arms 17andis .secured at its front endj thereto, a space being-formed between the Arel'naining portion of the bar and the arm 17 to receive the' topmost spring' 20 and the upper portion of theY suspending-loop ofr the mailbag holder.

is claimed as 'new is-L j engage with the mail-bag h'olderand prevent the latter from slipping back too far upon the catcher and prevent' its ready passage .through the door or opening in the side of thecar. y.

The mail-bag holder consists of a ring or support 220i annular form, and. this ring is provided'at its sides with a series of hooks 23 at 4dierent elevationsand at its upper end with `a suspension-loop 2li-of a size to snugly fit/upon thebars 13 and 19.

The suspendingloop is preferably right angular" to conformto the straight sides ef, the bars 13 and 19, the latter being of like cross-sectional area, so. as to enable the holder 22 to be used interchangeably therewith.

In order*- to prevent binding of the suspeusionLloop 24 against the sides ofthe bars 13 and 19, it is` provided at its 'top andl sides withantifricthym-'rollers 25 thelatter being in pairs and Y located at' the front and the rear edges of the' loop. The hooks 23 at the sides of the holder or ring 22zreceive the rings usually provided at theends-of a 'mail-pouch 26, thereby sup. porting the latter atgeach endend holdingit extended, as indicated. most clearly in thel drawings.

The 'provision of a plurality of hooks 23 enables a number ot mail-pouches A-being delivered` at a single operation and does away with the necessity for providing two or more cranes at a'statiom It being required to effect au interchange of mail-matter between a moving train and a' station,` the matter to be received'and d 'elivered is inclosed in inailpouches 26 in the usual manner. These mail-pouches are applied to the holders 22 by engaging' the rings at their ends with the hooks 23 at the sides of said holders, and the latter are suspended by means of their loops 2i from the respective bars 13 and 19 in the manner herein s et forth'. As the train approaches and passes the'station the hook 10 of the station-catcher will engage with the holder suspended from the mail-car and disengages it from the bar 19,

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and an' instant later the catcher of the mailcoach will engage with the holder of the bar' 13'and remove it therefrom. Th'e postalclerk graspsthe handle 198 and turnsthe bar 16 upon its pivotalconnection with the coach to bring the mail-matter received thereon into the car. TheI station-master removes the mail-matter from the .end orhook 10 of thel beam .8. When applying the holder to the bar -1 9,-the station-masten moiintstlreladder or steps 6 and turns said bar, so as to enable the suspending-loop 24 to be conveniently entrack, so as to bringthe holder, with the matter applied thereto, in-position to be engaged by the catcher applied to the mail-coach of the moving train. f

Having thus describedthe inverition, what n 1. In'a mail-bag catcher,'the combination with the receivinganddelivering mechanisms,

vIO

of a holder adapted to be applied to either of having a suspensiondoop, and having the top and sides of said loop provided with antifriction devices to engage with the top and sides of the said supporting-bar, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

l.V In a mail-bag catcher,- thecombination with a supporting-bar, of a mail-bag holder provided with a suspensionloop,and a pair of antifriction devices at the top and sides.

of the loop, and having the elementsof each pair separated to obviate binding between the supporting-bertrand loop, substantially as set `forth. l

, 5. In a mail-bag catcher, the combination with a supporting-bar,and restrai ning-springs at the top and sides of said bar, of a mail-bag holder having a suspension-loop to embrace the top and sides of the supporting-bar and held thereon against accidental displacement by the combined action of the restrainingsprings, substantially as set forth.

G. In a mail-bag catcher, the combination with a beam., of a catcher-hook of approximately U form, applied to said beam and having its inner or closed end depressed and having stop-shoulders at the ends of the depressed portion, substantially as described.

7. In a maiLbag catcher, the combination with a beam, oi a catcher-hook applied to thev end portion' of said beam, and a pinapplied tov and rising vertically from the said eXtrem-.

ity of the beam to prevent the mail-bag holder from slipping upon the said beam, substantially as and for the purpose speced.

S. Ina maiI-bag-catcher, the combination of a bar pivoted so as to swing horizontally and limited in its outward movement, and ap arm disposed about`l at right angles to the length of said bar and hingedthereto so as to fold thereon, 'substantially as A"set forth.

9. In a mail-bag catcher, the combination with the catcherapplied to the postal car,- of a longitudinally-disposed bar secured at its front end to the lower forward portion of the catcher and spaced therefrom to receive and support ythe mail-matter to be delivered, and a spring cooperating with the said bar to prevent accidental displacement of said matter' when in position, substantially as described. 10. In a mail-bag catcher, the combination with a beam, of la catcher-hook of substantially U form having one memberattached to the beam and having its opposite member inclined upwardly and outwardly and having its closed end depressed formingstop-shoulders atthe ends of the depressed portion, subjstantially as specified.'

1l. A mail-bag catcher comprising a bar, a folding arm disposed about at right angles to the bar and hinged thereto, and a hook or projection applied to the folding arm and extend- `ing; therefrom to form a stop to limit the movement of the mail-matter when received upon 'the said arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' SALLIE E. GIBSON. [L s] lVitnesses:

B. L. GIBSON, CLAY GIBSON.- 

